Ilkley 17

Selby 16

A thoroughly wet end to the week had left Stacks Field looking a touch bedraggled. A fair proportion of the large crowd had enjoyed some wonderful hospitality and chose the shelter of the corporate conservatory to watch this spellbinding if not a little untidy battle between two well-matched sides in Yorkshire League One.

Ilkley just edged it in the last few minutes of normal time but, in the final analysis, had scored three super tries to Selby's two. A win was a fair result, if not totally reflecting the 85 minutes or so of play. Selby supporters returned home wondering how so much possession could have been squandered.

Ilkley fashioned to lose ten line-outs on their own throw, Selby four. Ilkley conceded six penalties to Selby's two. The scrummaging was just about even once the Dalesmen had regained their equilibrium after being pushed back in the first set piece.

The wet surface and wet ball was sure to play a big part in the outcome and it was always going to be the side that made fewest mistakes that would come out on top. Selby started strongly after an indifferent kick-off. The Dalesmen allowed Dan Porter a first sighting of goal after three minutes. His kick just slipped wide.

Then centre Andy Gabel was held up short as a score looked inevitable - great Dalesmen defending this. More Selby pressure was repelled as the Dalesmen struggled to get out of their half but it was Selby who were making the unforced errors.

A couple of deep kicks by Ian Moffatt and Dan Nulty gave Ilkley a sniff of the Selby line and, in their first really meaningful back move of the match, they won a line-out on Selby's 22 after a high tackle on Nick Bell and a good James McBirnie touch finder. The ball was sent down the line to Simon Smith who rounded one and showing all his hard running experience dipped his shoulders into two more tackles and bulldozed over for a try. His conversion attempt was wide but Ilkley had a five point advantage.

The game opened up a little more with Ilkley competing better. Another promising period of play was punctuated late on in the half as McBirnie tried to trigger a move but only succeeded in crossing with his centres on half way. Dan Porter stepped up for the kick and sent it straight and true all of 45 metres over the bar to reduce the arrears to 5-3.

Now it was Selby with their tails up. Backs Tony Pemberton, Andy Gabel and Martin Protheroe all went close but were held up. The forwards took on the task and drove again this time forcing the Dalesmen back over their line to give Richard Fuller his debut try for Selby.

Ten minutes into the second-half Ilkley lost three line-outs in a row but somehow they were still in the opponents' 22. Incredibly they lost another and as the Selby backs tried to run out of trouble they spilled a ball. Ilkley moved the ball well. Centre Tim Rawlins shaped to pass to Nulty but skilfully cut inside to score an excellent first league try.

Ilkley were back in front at 10-8. Selby then made a series of changes, some enforced, some tactical. They certainly did the trick because they regained the upperhand and Wright Phillips picked up from the back and dived over to put his side 13-10 in the lead.

Ilkley wobbled. Dan Porter took advantage of an indiscreet foul to increase the lead to 16-10. Five minutes to go and Ilkley had to get a converted try.

In case of need - call on Nulty. It took the grit and tigerish determination of young Ian Moffatt to get Nulty into the game. Moffatt took Nulty's pass off his knees at speed and went in for a super try. No one but Moffatt was going to slot the ball between the uprights and Ilkley came out on top by a point.

l On Saturday Ilkley visit Wheatley Hills.